I’m not going to beat around the bush with this post: I’ve decided to kill this blog. There are many reasons, which I’ll share in a moment. But first, I want to say that I’ve been thinking about changing things up for a while now, so I know a bit about postponing the kill switch. Here’s why I’ve decided to pull it, once and for all:

1. You’re here to read about simple living.
2. I’m writing about life transformation and design.

It’s that simple. But it’s also an incredibly difficult decision. Last night, I took a long, hard look at what I was actually writing about and the direction my life is heading; in the end, I decided that those things didn’t jive with the topic of this blog. More importantly, I find that centering my writing around one topic is constricting.

No more trying to figure out how my new post fits within the context of simple living. It’s time to heed the signs.

No more middle path. It’s time to walk the walk.

Essentially, I want more. Lately I’ve been feeling a little bored. Not unhappy, just bored. Life is content, which makes me discontent. Everything is safe and secure, but where’s the adventure, the fun? That’s what I’m after!

At this point of my life, I have a strong urge to pursue my passions and focus on meaning. I also have zero tolerance for contentment. From now on I’ll be writing at my personal blog, Confessions of a Mosaic Self (tentatively titled). I don’t know what form the new blog will take, but here are my 7 Desires:

1. I desire alignment between passion and pursuit.
2. I desire transparency, authenticity and unfiltered honesty.
3. I desire to write amazing stories that resonate and teach.
4. I desire to create incredible products, like this, that help people transcend the monotony and escape contentment to a place of absolute joy.
5. I desire to be an artist who blogs, not a problogger.
6. I desire connection and community.
7. I desire to break boundaries.

In the coming months, I plan to toss everything in a backpack and travel the world. To discover the known by exploring the unknown. To write my ass off. I hope you’ll join me on the journey.

That’s it. I’ve enjoyed a modest readership here on Liv Simpl. Thank you! Your support has meant the world to me. For now, I’ll leave this blog up, but there will be no new content.

Be well. Liv Simpl.

Photo Credit: [moving on] | Dany Sakugawa | CC BY 2.0

Maybe the issue is that simplification didn’t trickle down to your goals. If you’re anything like me, you have a lot you want to accomplish, some short term and others long term. Unfortunately, living simple with scores of goals isn’t exactly the best strategy. In fact, it’s downright counterproductive.

Why? Because too many goals makes you scatter your energies. Yes, you may be interested in all of them, but living simple is about awareness and focus. Let me explain with a story.

For the past few years I’ve wanted to become fluent in Spanish. After visiting Peru in 2009, I returned home more determined than ever to say more than “Hola, como esta?” So last year I did something about it and found a private tutor to teach me once a week. Full Spanish sentences here I come!

Then I did something else I’d always wanted to do: I started a blog. This blog. When I started Liv Simpl, I didn’t have many goals other than helping others live simple and becoming a better writer. But then–gasp!–I actually grew to like blogging and, well, I’ve become addicted. As my blog addiction grew, my Spanish began to suffer. Seriously…my last four Spanish lessons consisted of me stuttering “pero, pero…uhh, como se dice [random word I don't know]” for an hour, making up non-existent grammar and avoiding eye contact with my instructor. It had to stop. Finally, it came time to make a decision: keep having half-assed Spanish lessons or temporarily let go of my goal.

I chose to let it go.

Please don’t mistake my candid storytelling for apathy. I loved my Spanish class and my instructor was someone I genuinely looked forward to seeing each week. But sometimes we have to have the awareness to let go of something to focus on our passion.

Excitement = Keep It; Chronic Procrastination = Let It Go

One of the reasons I let go of my Spanish class was because I stopped getting excited about studying. Yes, I love the language and enjoy speaking it, but every week I waited until the last minute to study. It just wasn’t a priority anymore. So I chose to focus on what was exciting me right now: writing.

Excitement is an indicator that you’re enjoying yourself, that you’re moving in the right direction. Chronic procrastination means you’re not having fun and you probably don’t want to be doing what you’re doing. Hey, let’s just be honest: if that holds true for one of your goals, then it’s time to ask yourself if you really want to pursue that goal right now–maybe it’s time to let it go for a while.

Truly, Madly, Deeply

Of course, letting go of a goal means you have to be honest about how meaningful it is to you. Over the years, I’ve found that having less goals allows me to focus on the quality and meaning behind them. In other words, it’s easier to determine which goals I truly feel inspired and excited about when I have less. When I have more, they begin to look like a checklist and I begin to treat them as such.

Still, I usually begin each year by writing out all of the things I’d like to accomplish, then I focus in on the ones that I’m ecstatic about. My advice is that less is more and meaning matters. Try to focus on the goals that mean the most to you, because they are the ones that could change your life if you follow them madly.

You Can Always Come Back To It

Remember, just because you let something go doesn’t mean it’s unachievable. You can always come back to it when you have less on your plate.

How do you keep your goals simple?

Photo credit: Monkey Bar Kid | Takver | CC BY-SA 2.0

Get Outside

The biggest challenge to being active is motivation and–let’s face it–motivation is at least ten times harder when it’s freezing outside. It’s like your body goes into hibernation mode. How do you motivate yourself to workout when all you want to do is stay indoors? The answer is the same as it is any season: get outside. No fluffy talk here. Just make it happen. This is even more crucial in the winter, when the cold deters us from getting off the couch. Even if you walk for 15 minutes, that’s an accomplishment. You just have to buckle down and do it.

Motivation never gets easier, you just become more disciplined. In his novel, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, Haruki Murakami describes his realization about motivation:

Once, I interviewed the Olympic runner Toshihiko Seko [...]. I asked him, “Does a runner at your level ever feel like you’d rather not run today, like you don’t want to run and would rather just sleep in?” He stared at me and then in a voice that made it abundantly clear how stupid he thought the question was, replied, “Of course. All the time.”

Gear-Up

I remember my first winter run in Chicago. Let’s just say I was, in a word, unprepared. I ran for about 15 minutes, just enough to get a nice sweat going, before I finally stopped, turned around and shivered my way home, cursing my ignorance. I needed gear. Coming from Atlanta, gear and running were two words I never put together. Yeah, I knew there were local running shops with fancy-smancy stretchy clothes, but whatever. I might have bought shoes there, but I didn’t need no stinkin’ stretchy pants.

Until I did. Standing in that hot shower, trying to feel my toes, I accepted defeat: my old basketball/gym clothes were not going to cut it, not in Chicago. So I bought myself some fancy-smancy stretchy clothes, amongst other things. Hey look, I’m a real runner! Over the years, I’ve learned what it takes to be active in cold weather and I’ve made a list of essential gear. Check it out:

• Layers - Ask any cold weather athlete the key to staying warm and you’ll always hear them say this word: layers. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking, “Well, duh.” But do you know how to layer? Turns out you need three layers: a base layer, insulation layer and shell layer. Also, cotton is the devil when it comes to working out in cold weather because it holds moisture, keeping you wet and cold. Check out this REI article on how to dress in layers for more info.

• Scully – Simply put, you should keep your head covered during cold weather exercise. Why? Because heat escapes from your head, so to keep your body heat level, you need to wear a hat. Most people prefer something minimal like a scully/beanie. They’re simple and effective. Get one made with a wool/synthetic blend. It’ll keep you warm and repel moisture.
• Socks – Some people say that gloves are the second most important thing to wear during cold weather exercise. Yes, they are important, but I think socks are more important. Especially if you are running, your feet need to stay warm, but they don’t need to be wet. Solution? Moisture wicking socks. I swear by Mizuno BreathThermo socks. They keep my feet warm and dry, in fact, they’re warmer than any of my thick wool socks, even though they are half as thick.

• Gloves – Like frostbitten fingers? Didn’t think so. Wear gloves during cold weather. You might think that you’re a heat machine, but those fingers will say otherwise after a few minutes of exercise in the cold. Visit your local running shop or local bike shop and ask them to show you their glove section. You have two options: get one pair of gloves to last you all winter. The advantage is that you only have to worry about one pair. Or, you can get two pairs: an insert and an outer shell (the method I use). The insert keeps you warm, while the outer layer acts as a windbreaker and/or rain shield. The advantage? See layers above.

• Goggles/Sunglasses – If you’re exercising outside in snowy weather, chances are things will blow into your eyes. Squinting and working out are a bad mix. Do yourself a favor and get some goggles or all-weather sunglasses and wear them when you need to. Your eyes will thank you.

• Bright colors – Two reasons to wear bright colors when you’re exercising outdoors in the winter. One, if there’s snow outside, everything looks light or dark, so your monotone workout outfit, though cute, won’t aid visibility. You need to wear something that will get you noticed. For all intensive purposes, when exercising in inclement weather or post-inclement weather, assume it’s night time. Why? Because of my second point: winter weather motorists are not nice. Remember what I said earlier about just wanting to get where you’re going when it’s cold? Well, every driver is thinking that too. So the chances of one of them not noticing your new monotone workout outfit while you’re jogging, cycling or walking are greater. Wear bright obnoxious colors and everybody’s safe and happy. Well, safe anyway.

Cross-train

Okay, so what if you just can’t take another run, or whatever activity you’re doing to stay fit? You cross-train. It’s a fancy way of saying, “tag!” But instead of tagging, say, your running shoes that you want to throw in the lake, you switch to your bicycle or rock-climbing, or…you get the idea: you do something different.

After I quit marathon training last January, I just didn’t feel like running anymore. Then I hurt my ankle and I decided that I definitely was NOT running again for a while, so I started cycling and fell in love with it all over again. Because I loved doing it, it felt like fun, not exercise and I got healthier with a big ‘ol smile on my face. If (insert activity here) has you down, maybe you should switch to something else too. Not everyone likes cycling, but there’s tons to choose from, even indoor sports. Here are some ideas to check out:

• Cycling
• Crossfit
• Yoga
• Indoor rock-climbing
• Racquetball
• Volleyball

So, how are those new life fitness resolutions going? Join the discussion and share some ways that you’re staying motivated!

Photo credits: Cycling Winter | Tejvan Pettinger | CC BY-2.0; Running in Winter Wonderland | Tim Wilson | CC BY 2.0

Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become. –Reinhold Niebuhr

It’s that time of year when we begin to think about the changes we’d like to make in our lives. Personally, I’m not a fan of New Year’s Resolutions; I prefer to make New Life Resolutions. Still, many readers in the Liv Simpl community have been asking about nutrition, living a simple lifestyle and being healthier: it’s clear that you’re thinking about making some amazing changes!

But change is hard. How do you prepare yourself for major (or minor) lifestyle changes? Here’s where you get to take advantage of my mistakes. Experience has taught me that there are four steps that will help you succeed in any changes you want to make.

1. Ask and Commit – Before you can change anything, you have to know what you want to change. This may seem silly and trite, but many people say they want to change their lives but they don’t know what that change looks like. There are many more people who know, but don’t want to admit it. Regardless, the first step is to ask. Ask yourself what you really want to change in your life. After you ask the hard questions, then you’re ready for the next step: commitment. Change is hard–we all know that–but you have to see it through. Ask yourself if you’re ready to do what it takes.
2. Let Go – Before you can fully embrace one thing, you have to let go of another. When it comes to lifestyle changes, this means letting go of obstacles that reinforce the “old you.” For example, if you want to learn to be healthier, avoid places with unhealthy meal options and reduce the time spent with negative people who don’t support the changes you want to make. Letting go is probably the hardest part of change. It’s easy to say you’re going to stop doing something, it’s another thing to let go of habits and people that aren’t good for you. But once you take a step away from your old self, you are one step closer to the new you.
3. Study the Experts – Once you’ve let go of the obstacles in your life, you’ll need some guidance and inspiration. Fortunately, there are many resources out there to inspire you. Whatever you wish to change in your life, chances are someone has already crossed that bridge or one like it. Learn from them. Studying their trials and successes will help you in your journey. Not sure where to look? Ask around. Someone you know may be able to help. Do a little research. There may be a book or online resources to aid you. Whatever the case, you don’t have to go it alone.
4. Set Specific Goals – Okay, so now you’ve done your research and you’re inspired. It’s time to set some goals. But these goals need to meet three criteria if you’re going to have the greatest chance of success.
• Your goals need to be specific – Your goals should state exactly what you want to accomplish or change in your life. Instead of saying, “I want to travel” or “I want to do something exciting,” say “I intend to travel to South America” or “I want to go skydiving.” A little specificity goes a long way in helping you clarify your intentions.
• Your goals need to be qualitative – When you’re starting out with a major lifestyle change, it’s important to emphasize quality over quantity in your goals. For example, instead of saying “I’m going to lose 30 pounds,” try saying “I’m going to get outside and walk for 20 minutes each day.” See how this is still specific, but it focuses on the quality of change rather than the quantity. Why should you do this? Because it’s less pressure. The hardest part about making a lifestyle change is the mental and emotional adjustment. By focusing on quality first, you make this adjustment process easier. You can make the switch to quantity once you’re ready.
• Your goals need to have a timetable – Simply put, you need to set a date for your goals. This is something that I haven’t always been good about, but more and more I realize how important a timetable is. Setting a date makes the goal a task that must get done. So set a date, tell others about it if you like, then get to work.

These four steps will help you get off on the right foot as you begin your new lifestyle. Of course, step 5 would be to jump in. There’s not one way to go about change, you just have to get started. It’s the hardest step, but the most important.

How do you tackle change in your life? Join the discussion by sharing your tips!

People who lack the clarity, courage, or determination to follow their own dreams will often find ways to discourage yours. When you change for the better, the people around you will be inspired to change also….but only after doing their best to make you stop. Live your truth and don’t EVER stop. –Steve Maraboli

Current Student Loan Debt: $44, 094.

Happy Holidays! It’s been just over two weeks since the last Debt Beatdown report and I’m sure you’re anxious to know how things have progressed. In my last report, I shared some of the challenges of living a systematic lifestyle during the holiday season. I’m happy to say that we made it through and I learned a lot along the way about family and compromise.

As of December 5, I finished the pre-work for DB and officially started the 12-month countdown. Yay! So what have I been doing since then? Reviewing, planning and writing.

Reviewing

To accompany my annual review, I decided to do a financial review for 2011. If you didn’t get a chance to read my annual review, check it out. I honestly had a fantastic year, financially and otherwise. Still, there’s always room for improvement. Financially, here’s what went well and what didn’t.

Financially, What Went Well in 2011?

• Paid off 8K of student loans – That’s right, my original student loan debt was 51K. In February, I decided to make a payment on my student loans every two weeks. It was just a little at first, but I gradually increased it to an extra $200 payment per month. As a result, I paid off 8K this year. A modest amount, but every little bit helps.

• Finished saving my emergency fund – In 2010 I set a goal to save 8 months of living expenses. Earlier this year, I decided that I wanted to increase that to 12, so I spent the first three months of the year capping it off.

• Almost maxed out 401K – After I saved my emergency fund, I turned toward my retirement savings. I admit that I didn’t have much of a strategy at first, initially just saving about 8 percent of my pay. But I gradually did some research and increased the percentage to as much as I could stand. Honestly, I have no idea if this was the right thing to do. Should I have funneled that money into paying off my student loans instead? Should I have invested the difference? It’s questions like these that I plan to explore in 2012.

• Started investing in the stock market – Without knowing anything about the stock market, I bought a very small amount of shares in four different companies this year. When I say small, I mean 5 to 15 shares each. How did I do? I made about an 8% return. This is something I plan to explore in 2012 as well. If I can make an 8% return without knowing anything and doing very little, who knows what I can do if I put some effort into this thing!

Financially, What Didn’t Go Well in 2011?

• Lost almost 5K in my retirement fund – My 401K took a beating this year and I blame myself. Because I am completely intimidated by the prospect of managing my retirement fund, I paid for a third party to do it for me. Bad idea. After two quarters of losses, I canceled and decided to manage my own future.

• Had to borrow from my emergency fund for a non-emergency – In October we went to St. Thomas for a friend’s wedding. Before we left, we saved, set a budget and made a plan. Then we got to St. Thomas and realized that none of it was going to work. Everything was incredibly expensive and we ended up spending twice the amount we initially planned. Fortunately we had a great time and I’d do it all over again if I had to. Still, as a result, I had to borrow from my emergency fund in November. Lesson learned: don’t go to St. Thomas if you want a budget vacation.

• Didn’t study the stock market before investing – Even though I made an 8% return on investment this year, I should have actually studied instead of taking the lazy route to investing. Yeah, yeah, yeah…

Planning and Writing

Upcoming Launch

I’ve been planning and writing two guides that are set to launch in the coming weeks. Because I’ve learned so much over the past few years, one of the guides will focus on tips to help you simplify your financial life. I’ve never published a guide before, so I’m sure I’ll muck something up along the way…but isn’t that the fun part?

Smarter, Not Harder

My biggest goal for 2012 is to identify smarter ways of generating enough income to pay off the remaining 44K of my student loans. In January, I plan to explore a few ways to do this, including studying the stock market. I’m also going to interview some financial experts and get their insight as well–which I’ll report back here on Liv Simpl.

How All This Helps You

Even though I talk about eliminating my student loan debt, the real goal of all of this is to share what I’ve learned to help you simplify your life, create income and avoid making the mistakes I did. In 2012 I plan to launch workshops focused on helping you take control of your finances and live a focused, inspired life. After all, the reason we’re here is to help each other grow and evolve.

Thanks for being part of the journey, stay tuned for some great products!